Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The score was a definitive 9-0 victory for Carleton on Sunday.

Yet, despite the lopsided final outcome, Saint Mary's University women's tennis coach Jeff Halberg couldn't be happier.

Not wtih the final score, but with the Cardinals' performance — and their potential.

"The score certainly didn't tell the whole story," said Halberg. "We may not have taken any matches, but we were very close at most positions — which is especially important when you consider that Carleton is a regionally ranked team with a very good chance of qualifying for the NCAA Division III national tournament. "

The Cardinals failed to win a match against the high-powered Knights, but Ann Leeder (Greenfield, Wis.) certainly gave it her best effort, falling in three sets, 5-7, 6-2, 10-3 at No. 4 singles, while Ashley Meschke (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) dropped a a hard-fought 7-5, 6-1 decision at No. 1 singles. Michele Clarke (Omaha Neb.) and Angie Beissel (Hastings, Minn.) also gave Carleton all it could handle at No. 2 doubles, as the SMU duo fell 9-8.

"I'm very proud of the way we played," said Halberg, whose men's team was also scheduled to play the Knights, but a scheduling mix-up forced the match to be postponed to a later date. "This women' team has already come a long way since the beginning of the season and they have a lot of fight in them."